Show Preview: Public Enemy – X Clan – Schoolly D – and Monie Love – at Club Nokia – Los Angeles, CA – December 13, 2012

Typically, Big Wheel covers Punk and it's Sub-Genres, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like other musical genres as well. DIY-ers, Public Enemy, will be headlining the 1st (of what should be an annual show) HipHopGods tour. This is rumored to be a 3 hour show and, according to www.hiphopgods.com, “will move like a 1960s James Brown Revue or Dick Clark Star Caravan making the concert a true once in a lifetime event”. X Clan, Monie Love, Schoolly D and many others will share the stage with 25-year veterans Public Enemy.

 

In the late 80’s and early 90’s, rap was making its way into the mainstream of America’s airwaves. Collaborations between veteran rock groups and hip-hop artists cemented this rise (Run D.M.C. & Aerosmith, Chuck D & Sonic Youth, De La Soul & Teenage Fanclub are just a handful in this category). The cross-over continued with hip-hop artists sharing the bill at mainly rock festivals, such as Ice-T with Body Count opening at Lollapalooza in ’91. This tour gathers together some of the greats of this era which will be a fantastic trip down memory lane (for some of us) and is an introduction of “new” music for others.

Monie Love is someone I’m super excited to see! Monie, originally an English emcee, was thrust into the American spotlight thanks to Queen Latifah. Nominated for two Grammy’s off her debut album “Down to Earth”, Monie Love has talent. If you’ve never heard Monie, check out “Monie in the Middle” and that should give you an idea of her style which is reminiscent of early Latifah and Salt ‘n Peppa.

Schoolly D, Philly native, is considered one of the first gangsta rappers and was an influence on Ice-T and Eazy-E of N.W.A. fame. If you’ve ever seen the movie “King of New York”, you’ve heard Schoolly D. Remember that song that was playing during the shoot-out scene? That was Schoolly D’s “Am I Black Enough for You?” Though that song brought him some level of recognition in the main populous, his ’86 song “P.S.K., What Does it Mean” is the song that make the burgeoning West Coast Rap community sit up and take notice.

X Clan embodies the early ‘90’s Hip-Hop, or at least what I was exposed to. Combining conscious-raising lyrics laid over Jazz and funk musical tracks, Brother J’s smooth vocals hide some very cutting observations on the (then) state of affairs of inner-city life. Though X Clan split after their 2nd album, and the former members went on to other projects (or death), I’m stupidly excited that they’ve recently regrouped, with their most recent album being 2009’s “Mainstream Outlaws”. Chuck D is arguably one of the best lyricists in the Hip-Hop world, and the combination of his voice, words, and the antics of Flavor Flav is a recipe for a mind-blowing show. In 2011, I was lucky enough to catch them at the Sunset Strip Music Festival—I think their short set was one of the most energetic of the day, and one of the best. PE was one of the first hip-hop groups to integrate the use of instruments in their live shows, and they still do, with Flav jumping in on both bass and drums when the mood strikes him. As the December 13th show is the last stop on the tour, and it being PE’s now-home in Los Angeles, I can only imagine the energy that will be seen on stage that night! (And possibly guest appearances? My hope will be that Scott Ian stops by for “Bring the Noise”. Please?)

With 16 albums to choose from, two of which were released in 2012 (“Most of my Heroes Still Don’t Appear on no Stamp” and “The Evil Empire of Everything”), the set-list is sure to be a mix of old and new. Chuck D’s politically charged lyrics and asides are tempered by the shenanigans of Flavor Flav (and his ubiquitous neck-clock), with the ever-present S1W standing guard on stage.

Though this show falls outside the oeuvre of Punk Rock, the politically charged lyrics of the performers and “fuck the status-quo! Fight the power!” attitude is. This show is not to be missed!

 

For official tour dates click HERE

 

-Anni Thyme-
Big Wheel Staff Journalist

 

 

 

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